Fisherman's Rest Island

Fishermans Rest is a .1-acre island on Butterfield Lake in the Thousand Islands Region of New York State. I purchased the old fishing camp in 2013 and, unable to salvage years of cobbed repairs or correct several structural issues, proceeded with a total teardown (with the help of friends, of course!) and rebuild. I opted to borrow the open floorplan concept of a small church, allowing the 24x28 structure to feel quite roomy inside. My amateurish drawings on scrap paper were adapted by professionals and brought to life over the course of the next several years.

The structure has clapboard exterior walls, shiplap for the interior walls and ceiling, and a stone fireplace I saved during demolition and had local masons refurbish and lengthen with rocks fished out of the very lake where the house is located. Beams from the original house are incorporated into the interior design, with several other upcycled items like a refurbished clawfooted tub, church pew in the entranceway, and heirlooms collected from international travels.